Chapter 2
Separated in darkness they shall grow
Of each other they shall not know
Prospering apart, until their ready
Together they will keep the dark steady
Then they will defeat evil with his own way
But not before in darkness they shall lay
The next moment a night bus appeared, and not just any night bus, but a deep blue one. A private one.
"Step on in Harry," Dumbledore said waiting on the top step while Harry stood dumbstruck in the street. When no explanation for the strange form of transportation were offered, Harry jumped on board. Then preceded to take a seat as far away from Dumbledore as possible. Letting him know that he was more than a little irked.
It was a very quiet and short ride to Hogwarts, neither of them talking. Harry missed the chatter of his classmates on the Hogwarts Express. And his anger rose yet another level. Dumbledore offered no clarification for his odd behavior, and Harry still didn't ask. He wasn't exactly happy with his professor, both for not telling him what this sudden need to be at Hogwarts was about, and for last year's mishap. Harry wasn't a very forgiving person, and could hold a grudge long. And right now, he had a major grudge against the person sitting a few seats away from him.
After a few more silence filled minutes, they arrived at the castle. Once off the bus, Dumbledore directed him to his office. "We have a lot to discuss." Was all he offered as the gargoyle jumped aside at the password ( Ton Tongue Toffee). Harry entered and headed towards the chair opposite Dumbledore's desk. But already sitting in the chair that Harry usually occupied while having chats with Dumbledore (back when he liked him) was a girl. A girl with long dark red hair, like roses, or better yet, blood. She was small, she barely would have come up to Harry's chest if she had been standing. And as she stood and turned Harry saw her eyes. Emerald eyes. No they were rubies. If you could mix rubies and emeralds together you'd get her eyes. They were also familiar, those eyes were exactly like his.
"Why don't we sit down?" Dumbledore suggested kindly, and broke Harry out of his stupor. Harry was just as entranced with the girl as she was with him, and then she seemed to break free of her trance and spoke out.
"Harry, I presume." It wasn't a question, more of a statement. But the tone of her voice was what surprised Harry, it was a sweet voice but with a sly tone.
"Yes, and you would be who?" Now it was his own voice that surprised him, it wasn't openly insolent, but it still was unable to hide his feelings. But Harry didn't care, he wanted answers. And this girl had the answers, or so it appeared. She didn't answer, but oddly, she seemed pleased with his question. Dumbledore did not, but who cared about him?
"Harry, Rose please sit down." Once they'd complied he continued, " Now please give me a chance to explain the situation. I'll first start with who you two are, if you haven't already guessed, you are twins. Harry and Rose Potter. "
When neither twin said anything, Dumbledore continued. "This may be a shock, but no one lied to you, no one knew Rose existed except your parents, who couldn't have told you about her if they lived. They had their memories erased, and so for them she had never existed. Glady Weasley, who just past away, was the only other person to know." Dumbledore paused for breath, and Harry decided not to interrupt, it would be interesting to see where this was going.
"You see Harry, Glady has been taking care of Rose, raising her, and teaching her for the past 15 years, since she didn't go to Hogwarts because we didn't know of her existence. The reason being that Glady predicated your futures, and what she predicted caused your parents to separate you two. The first prediction came at the time of your birth." He picked up a piece of parchment and read from it, "Separated in darkness they shall grow, of each other they shall not know. So you see, we separated you during the reign of Voldemort, and erased your parents memory of Rose, so they wouldn't let slip."
" Now they gave Rose to Glady, because she was a female and Harry would have been raised better with a male figure, or so they thought. It obviously wasn't an easy choice, but a necessary one if they wanted you two live and defeat Voldemort." Rose didn't seem offended that they had chosen Harry over her. In fact she looked bored at the moment.
"Her next prediction came when you where due to arrive at Hogwarts," he again picked up the parchment and cleared his throat, "prospering apart until their ready, together they shall keep the dark steady. Glady then knew not to bring you to Hogwarts, and to educate you herself." Dumbledore said indicating Rose, who still was not paying the least bit of attention to Dumbledore, or so it seemed. "And you kept the dark steady by not joining together and defeating Voldemort as first or fourth years." At that Harry glared harder at Dumbledore. "The final part went on as then they will defeat evil with his own way, but not before in darkness they shall lay. Now you two are meant to defeat Voldemort or evil as it says. Now in darkness you shall lay. So you to must turn dark." This last part was said with regret, but as an order. Harry couldn't resist.
"What makes you think we're not already dark?" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled at that. Then they focused on Rose who had become interested at this latest remark. She lifted her eyebrow questionly.
"I have complete faith in both of you, you see there is a difference in learning and understanding the dark arts and in depending on them. For both of you will be learning them and using them, but not abusing them. You will be taught how to perform the dark arts properly. Most Death Eaters and evil followers know and use them, but improperly and abusively."
At this point Harry was confused, but wouldn't admit it, so he kept his face impassive. With a glance at Rose, he saw her face was also emotionless, much like some of his photos for Mr. Stewart were. There was no doubt in his mind now that they were indeed twins.
"At the start of the new term this year you will be sorted, both of you. Harry, you were once considered for Slytherin by the hat, it won't be that hard to persuade him to change his mind, especially if you're being resorted." Dumbledore chuckled, "I do believe that's never happened before, it will be a quite confused. Now Rose, judging by your behavior so far you should have no trouble getting into Slytherin. If worst comes to worst threaten the hat. That'll convince it soon enough." Both Harry and Rose smiled identical grins.
" Now that we've put you in darkness, they rest will be up to you. The prophecy entails that you will defeat evil with his own ways, so you must vanquish Voldemort like he would. Become friends with your fellow Slytherins, who will no doubt take to you. And figure out what he would do." Dumbledore stopped for their opinions but none were voiced. All Harry said was, "Alright, but what are we doing for the rest of the summer?"
" You'll be staying here of course, free to visit Hogsmeade as long as you've told me first. And Rose will need to be caught up on Defense of the Dark Arts, I believe you will be able to help her catch up on all her work Harry, in time for September. Now why don't you leave so you can get acquainted, I believe Sirius will be here for dinner in about 5 hours."
At that Dumbledore turned his back on them, in indication that they could leave.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Once at the bottom of the staircase, Rose spoke. "So where do you want to sleep little brother?"
"What do you mean little brother?" Harry asked, and then, "oh and the Slytherin dorm rooms, I guess." As an after thought.
"We'll Glady said I was 3 minutes older, and I've never been to Hogwarts before, so your officially in charge of showing me around. So you'd better do a good job, oh and you'd better be a good teacher too, because Glady always said I was quite brilliant. And I'd hate to have my marks fall just because of you, dear brother." Rose said with a grin.
Harry stared at her a minute before replying " You are too sarcastic for your own good." Then under his breath, " perfect Slytherin material." Then audibly enough so she could here him, "I'd better get this done before dinner."
" Oh, why? Will it take long?"
"No, but if Sirius is coming, we won't be done until late. He's always wondering if I'm okay. If he just found out I'm a twin, he'll be unbearable. And I'm planning on going to bed, while you explain the Slytherin bit."
"Whatever, let's see the Gryffindor Tower first."
"Why? We'll be in Slytherin, in the dungeons. Or is your memory so short you've already forgotten ?"Harry sneered, already getting used to siblinghood.
"No, you dunderhead, Slytherins and Gryffindors are enemies, I'm planning on rigging their tower with Dungbombs."
Harry could only stare at her with shock before replying, "You are definitely James Potter's daughter, you and Sirius will really get along tonight." Rose just shrugged and started off towards the towers, where she had been told Gryffindor was. " Tell me about your friends."
"Well there's Ron and Hermione, they've been my best friends since first year. Hermione's a bookworm ,but she has helped kept me out of too much trouble a lot. Then there's Ron, who's always fighting with Hermione. Don't mess with them." The last bit was meant as a threat, but Rose appeared unmoved. As she pranced past the picture of the fat lady. "Wait, we're here," Harry halted and indicated the portrait. Rose twirled around, and immediately took up a conversation with the fat lady.
" Sooooo…….Is it lonely here during the summer with no students here? How long have you been the guard of Gryffindor tower? Do you remember my parents?" Harry stood there stunned, Rose certainly was talkative, what was she getting at? After some more minutes of useless chatter, Harry began to tap his foot impatiently. They ignored him. Though the fat lady did seem to take a liking to Rose, why was beyond Harry.
"As long as the other portraits visit me, I don't get too lonely. And I've been here far too long, but you do get the best gossip from the Gryffindors." Harry's eyebrows rose
skeptically. "And how could I forget such lovely faces as your parents? Both of you resemble your father, your hair is darker than Lily's though. And I have no idea where you got your eyes, neither James or Lily had red ones, odd, maybe your muggle grandparents had them." Somewhere during their conversation Harry's interests had wandered, and he was teasing with Rose's idea to set up the Gryffindor Tower with pranks. That would be a great way to show Slytherin loyalty. Suddenly the portrait sprang open. And Harry looked at Rose for an answer as to how she got it open. But she was already through before he could question her.
"Hmmmm, I'm thinking that something with green and silver, then Slytherin written over the Gryffindor pictures, and maybe some snakes. Yes that'll be perfect. We'll of course need to go to Zonko's for supplies, but we'll worry about that later. Now on to Ravenclaw." And with that she was scurrying out of the portrait hole. Harry looked around the common room imagining it with snakes and green all around, yes this would be an interesting year.
A/N: I didn't touch this chap 2 much, it's still basically the same. I'll write longer Chaps once I get more reviews.